Mitchell portage routes amended

Last October the Ravalli County Commissioners approved three portage routes  formal public access sites  on Mitchell Slough. The portage routes were originally requested by the Bitterroot River Protection Association in 2004. Due to ongoing litigation at the time concerning the status of the slough, that request was put on hold pending resolution of the lawsuit. Following a Montana Supreme Court ruling that Mitchell Slough was a natural branch of the river, those portage route requests were revived.
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The manager of the Double Fork Ranch volunteered to build his own fence with a V-gate opening to allow access into Mitchell Slough at Victor Crossing. Recreationists can now reach the stream bank by entering the V-gate and may then proceed upstream by lifting the plastic covered bottom fence wire and going under the fence. Apparently someone could not figure that out recently and cut the top two wires of the fence to go over it. As a result a sign will be placed at the site explaining how the installation works. There is also a Portage Route at the head of the slough at the Tucker headgate, just south of Tucker Crossing East and one at Bell Crossing.

Subdivision regulation changes being considered

By Michael Howell

Ravalli County Subdivision regulations have been changed many times over the years. Periodically, changes must be made to meet changes in state law made by the legislature. But what is taking place now, according to Planning Director John Lavey, is a much more qualitative and substantial update of the regulations, not just to meet state law, but to better serve the majority of the people who actually use the process.
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The U.S. Constitution: Myth versus Reality

By Michael Howell

Close to fifty Bitterrooters of every political persuasion showed up to hear from and ask questions of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Montana Public Policy Director Niki Zupanic last Friday at River Street Dance Studio in Hamilton. The event was sponsored by the Bitterroot Democracy Project, a newly formed non-profit organization in the valley, whose mission statement is to promote democratic values and informed, civil discourse. They must view Zupanics presentation as a success. Given the political diversity of the audience, her thirty-minute presentation and one-and-a-half hour question and answer session were remarkably civil and informed, especially considering all the hot button issues that were discussed.
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Relay for life held

The 13th Annual Ravalli County Relay for Life was held at the track in Corvallis last Friday, June 24. Following the opening ceremonies, cancer survivors took the traditional lap before being serenaded with a birthday song. The slogan for this years event was, Blow out the candles on cancer.
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The opening ceremony at the Ravalli County Relay For Life was followed by the traditional survivors lap after which the crowd sang Happy Birthday.